Avascular necrosis (AVN) is the death of bone tissue due to a loss of blood supply.  You might also hear it called osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or ischemic bone necrosis. In its early stages, AVN usually doesn’t have symptoms. As the disease gets worse, it becomes painful.

What Is Avascular Necrosis?

 Avascular necrosis (AVN) is the death of bone tissue due to a loss of blood supply.  You might also hear it called osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or ischemic bone necrosis.

 If it isn’t treated, AVN can cause the bone to collapse. AVN most often affects your hip. Other common sites are the shoulder, knees, and ankles.

 Who Gets Avascular Necrosis?

As many as 20,000 people develop AVN each year. Most are between ages 20 and 50. For healthy people, the risk of AVN is small. Most cases are the result of an underlying health problem or injury.

Causes

Avascular necrosis occurs when blood flow to a bone is interrupted or reduced. Reduced blood supply can be caused by:

  • Joint or bone trauma. An injury, such as a dislocated joint, might damage nearby blood vessels. Cancer treatments involving radiation also can weaken bone and harm blood vessels.
  • Fatty deposits in blood vessels. The fat (lipids) can block small blood vessels, reducing the blood flow that feeds bones.
  • Certain diseases. Medical conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and Gaucher's disease, also can cause diminished blood flow to bone.

For about 25 percent of people with avascular necrosis, the cause of interrupted blood flow is unknown.

Symptoms of Avascular Necrosis

In its early stages, AVN usually doesn’t have symptoms. As the disease gets worse, it becomes painful. At first, it might only hurt when you put pressure on the affected bone. Then, pain may become constant. If the bone and surrounding joint collapse, you may have severe pain that makes you unable to use your joint. The time between the first symptoms and bone collapse can range from several months to more than a year.

The symptom is usually a sudden onset of pain that is probably due to a sudden feeding anemia. However, patients often have necrosis status before. The pain is increasing when the dead bone deflects the femoral head, aches when walking and decreases with rest.

The pain comes from the groin spreading to the inside of the thigh or sometimes the pain behind the buttocks. The pain is limiting the movements of the hip joint and when it is found that the outer and inner rotation is reduced first. Sometimes the patient feels pain in the knee area and makes many doctors misdiagnose. 

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you have persistent pain in any joint. Seek immediate medical attention if you believe you have a broken bone or a dislocated joint.

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For appointment or more information about the services provided by the Trauma-Orthopedics Department, please contact:

  • Ms. Tâm: 0906 48 31 34
  • Reception Desk: (8428) 6280 3333, ext. 8213

City International Hospital

  • Address: No. 3, 17A Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Binh Tan Dist. (Next to AEON Mall Binh Tan). Ho Chi Minh City.
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General disclaimer

 Always consult your doctor regarding any concern about your health. Your doctor will be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice. For suspected undesirable drug reaction and seek medical attention immediately.